Laser Beam Machining(LBM)-

Introduction
• LASER stands for light amplification by stimulated
emission of radiation.
• Laser beam can very easily be focused using optical
lens as their wavelength ranges from 0.5 to 70
microns.
• This focused laser beam have power density as high
as 1 MW/mm^2.
• As laser interacts with the w/p material, the energy
of the photon is absorbed by the material leading to
rapid rise in temperature.
• This results in melting and vaporization of the w/p
material and finally material removal.
 Working Principle of Laser
• The working principle of laser depends
on stimulated emission.
• At absolute zero temperature, an atom is
considered to be at ground level.
• The particular electron of an atom in the
ground state absorbs energy of the
photon spontaneously and goes into the
higher energy state. This is known as
‘spontaneous absorption’.
• But, it does not stay in higher energy
state for a long time.
• It returns back to the ground state and
emits a photon. This is known as
‘spontaneous emission’.
Contd…
• In a material, if more number of electrons can
be pumped to higher energy state as compared
to number of electrons at ground state, then it is
known as ‘population inversion’.
• Such electrons return to the ground state in the
form of an avalanche stimulated by a photon of
suitable frequency. This is known as stimulated
emission. In this way, coherent laser beam is
produced.
Schematic working of a laser (Refer fig 9.6.9)
• There is a gas inside a cylindrical
glass vessel. This gas is also
known as the lasing medium.
• One end of the glass is blocked
with a 100% reflective mirror and
the other end is having a partially
reflective mirror.
• The gas molecules are excited by
pumping it with the flash
lamps(or electrical discharge).
• The gas goes to higher energy
state and again comes down.
Therefore, there are lot of
coherent photons emitting out
one by one.
• So, number of photons will
increase.
• The photon is reflected back by
partially reflected mirror and
again stimulate another photon to
emit out from high energy
electron.
Contd…
• Once it reaches the total reflected mirror, it goes
back into the chamber.
• After sometime, there is a coherent beam of
laser coming out.
 Working of a solid-state laser
• The ruby rod acts as the lasing medium.
• The ruby rod (or laser crystal) is placed
inside an optical cavity (or flash tube).
• The flash tube pumps energy within the
ruby rod so that electrons which are at the
ground state can be put to the higher
energy state. This is done by capacitor from
a supply of 5kV.
• The charging and discharging time is
determined by the resistor.
• The switching electrode initiates the first
emission producing the laser beam which
interacts with the w/p.
 LBM-Laser Types
• Gas Lasers
1. Helium-Neon
2. Argon
3. CO2 (λ=10.6 μm)
• Solid state lasers
1. Ruby which is a Chromium-Aluminium alloy
having a wavelength of 0.7 μm.
2. Nd-glass laser(λ=1.64 μm)
3. Nd-YAG laser(λ=1.06 μm)
 Applications of LBM
• Material Removal-Drilling, cutting, trepanning
• Welding
• Cladding
• Alloying
• Bending
• Laser Drilling
 Advantages of LBM
• Micro-holes can be drilled in difficult-to-cut
materials.
• Heat affected zone is not very significant due to
short pulse duration.
• Physical tool is absent. So, no machining force
takes place.
• Large aspect ratio in laser drilling can be
achieved with acceptable accuracy.
 Limitations of LBM
• High initial capital cost.
• High maintenance cost.
• Not very efficient process.
• Not suitable for heat sensitive materials as it is a
thermal process.